The Securities and Exchange Commission today announced that it updated its list of unregistered entities that use misleading information to solicit primarily non-U.S. investors, adding 58 soliciting entities, 11 impersonators of genuine firms, and one bogus regulator.

The SEC’s list of soliciting entities that have been the subject of investor complaints, known as the Public Alert: Unregistered Soliciting Entities (PAUSE) list, enables investors to better inform themselves and avoid being a victim of fraud. The latest additions are firms that SEC staff found were providing inaccurate information about their affiliation, location, or registration. Under U.S. securities laws, firms that solicit investors generally are required to register with the SEC and meet minimum financial standards and disclosure, reporting, and recordkeeping requirements. 

"With publication of the PAUSE list, the Commission continues to take action to protect retail investors," said Jose M. Rodriguez, Acting Chief of the SEC’s Office of Market Intelligence.  "We are issuing an increasing number of alerts to provide valuable information and aid investors in making informed investment decisions."

In addition to alerting investors to firms falsely claiming to be registered, the PAUSE list flags those impersonating registered securities firms and bogus "regulators" who falsely claim to be government agencies or affiliates. Inclusion on the PAUSE list does not mean the SEC has found violations of U.S. federal securities laws or made a judgment about the merits of any securities being offered.

The PAUSE list is periodically updated by the SEC’s Office of Market Intelligence, in coordination with the Office of Investor Education and Advocacy and the Office of International Affairs.

How to protect yourself:

• Beware of Communications Falsely Appearing to Come from the SEC – Investor Alert

• Watch Out for Scammers Posing as SEC Employees – Investor Alert

• Investor Alert: When Engaging With the SEC on Social Media, Use Our Verified Accounts and Be Alert for Impersonators

• Investor Alert: SEC Impersonators Pretend to Help Investors Buy Stock

• Visit Investor.gov for tips on investing wisely and avoiding fraud.